In a hidden corner of the imperial harem, several small eunuchs gathered together to whisper quietly.
"Hey, have you heard? They say the Emperor is suddenly unable to perform, but I'm not sure if it's true or not."
"I've also heard about this, they say the Emperor has been putting up the status of his concubines, but none of them have been called to serve. This has been happening in several palaces, and it's starting to seem abnormal."
"Hehe, then wouldn't the Emperor become like us?"
"Shh, are you trying to get yourself killed? You dare to say such things! If anyone overhears, you could be..."
After the little eunuch finished speaking, he made a gesture of wiping his neck.
The little eunuch who was originally speaking was so frightened that his face turned pale. He hurriedly covered his mouth and dared not continue to discuss it.
Such rumors have not ceased.
Whispers can be heard in every corner of the imperial harem. Although no one openly circulates the rumors, those who need to know are already aware.
After hearing the news, Yu Yao laughed for a long time and couldn't stop.
"Ha ha ha, I can't stop laughing! Who started this rumor, it's too funny, ha ha ha."
She laughed so hard that she was shaking the branches, extremely exaggerated. Even with the Emperor sitting right in front of her, she couldn't help it.
It's really too hilarious.
Yè Běi Chén squinted his eyes and looked at her as she laughed, his eyes cold, cool, and soft.
This detestable woman, for whom is he doing this? He has the gall to laugh.
"Is it very funny?"
He stared at her malevolently, biting his teeth coldly and said.
As if it was sprung from the gaps between his teeth, it was filled with danger.
Yu Yao knew he was angry, her face went rigid, and she dared not continue to laugh anymore. But she couldn't help it.
Her shoulders shook violently, indicating how much she was struggling to hold back her laughter.
Perhaps the excitement of the emotion infected the two small babies in her womb.
Or maybe she was holding back so hard that it upset the two little ones in her belly, prompting them to protest.
She only felt as if her belly had been kicked twice.
"Hmm"
Although the force was not great, she still felt it.
Yu Yao stopped laughing and looked down at her belly, filled with excitement.
Her belly has been five months, because it is a twin, looking just like the other six-seven months, big and round, like a football.
Of course, one can also feel the movements of the fetus.
The changes in her expression, Yè Běi Chén naturally saw it and thought something had happened.
He was startled instantly and rushed over immediately. With a worried expression, he asked, "What's wrong? Is the baby ill?"
When it comes to the child, he had no time to be angry.
"It's okay, maybe it's because my emotions were too excited just now, the little one in my belly felt it and kicked me."
Yu Yao smiled at him softly and gently caressed her belly, full of tenderness and love.
The child from her previous life never made it, leaving a deep regret in her heart.
These two children, are considered to make up for the shortcomings of her previous life, and in the future, she will certainly protect them and help them grow up well.
"Really?"
Yè Běi Chén heard this and the worry on his face dissipated, replaced by a smile. He gently touched her belly with his large hand, moving softly.
"Kicking is a sign of strength. Let me feel it too!"
He chuckled softly.
But the two little ones in her belly seemed to feel the unfamiliar presence and stopped moving.
Yu Yao's face froze, fearing that the children might not be liked by Yè Běi Chén before they were even born. She quickly said, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry. They are still very young, and this is the first time I've felt them kick me."
Yè Běi Chén withdrew his hand, although he was a bit disappointed, it was not worth getting angry with his own child.
"Looks like the prince and I are not yet familiar. This can't be allowed. In the future, we must get closer."
He stared at her belly and cursed softly.
Yu Xian Palace is full of joy and unity, with a warm atmosphere.
Cening Palace, however, was shrouded in a dark cloud.
The Empress Dowager was leaning back against the head of the bed, her back supported by a cushion. Although her spirits were much better than before, her temples were distinctly lined with more white hair.
This shows that the previous incident has caused her a lot of trouble.
At the moment, upon hearing the nanny report about the rumors in the palace, she was extremely angry.
If the Emperor is unable, how could he secretly and stealthily commit his act in Yu Xian Palace against Concubine Yao?
This shows that the Emperor is in good health, with no problems at all.
As for why the Emperor has chosen a palace maid but has not yet visited her.
It's either because he's tired or because the Emperor doesn't like it and just doesn't want to sleep.
It's really asking for death to blame the Emperor for one's own inefficiency.
The Empress Dowager's face was extremely dark, and her eyes fell on the Qiu Yun next to her, coldly saying:
"Qiu Yun, go and investigate for me. Find out which clumsy fool would dare to gossip about the Emperor's private matters behind his back and spread such rumors."
"Yes, Empress Dowager."
Autumn Cloud walked out from the corner, looked at the Empress Dowager with a very dark face, and respectfully said.
Although she was nearly killed when the Empress Dowager pounded her, she has recovered after so much time and now is back to serve the Empress Dowager again.
The Empress Dowager looked at Autumn Cloud and said, "Think of a way to suppress the rumors. This concerns the face of the Emperor, and such rumors must not appear in the palace."
"Whoever dares to gossip again, their tongues will be directly removed by me."
She said this with a fierce expression.
"Yes, Empress Dowager."
Autumn Cloud looked at the Empress Dowager respectfully and said.
"All right, go down."
The Empress Dowager waved her hand, and let Autumn Cloud leave.
Not only did the Empress Dowager take action, but Yè Běi Chén also acted quickly to deal with the rumors after leaving Yu Xian Palace.
He then sent people to investigate.
To find out where the rumors came from.
Both major figures in the palace acted together, and such rumors about the Emperor's inability quickly disappeared.
Subsequently, following the trail, they quickly traced the rumors back to Yongfu Palace.
It turned out that it was the Concubine Ruanfei who complained to her personal maid, Caiyue.
She said that the Emperor went to her palace but did nothing and just slept all night, covering himself up.
Concubine Ruanfei suspected that the Emperor was unable, and she discussed with Caiyue about sending some health-preserving soup for the Emperor.
Little did they know that their conversation was overheard by the spy Queen installed in Yongfu Palace.
The Queen took the initiative, and used this opportunity to spread the rumors.
Firstly, it could be used to get back at Yè Běi Chén, and secondly, it could also be used to strike down Concubine Ruanfei.
After all, the words came out of Concubine Ruanfei's mouth, and she had nothing to do with it. She was just a tool.
However, the Queen did not know that once something was done, there would always be traces left behind.
The Imperial Study!
Yè Běi Chén looked at the booklet handed to him by Fu Gongan, which recorded the results of the investigation.
Seeing that the rumors were from Yongfu Palace, Yè Běi Chén's expression was very complicated.
But thinking that the Queen dared to use this matter and had it spread all over the harem, his face turned cold again.
"Fu An, pass on my order. Concubine Ruanfei spreads rumors without regard for her words, which are disrespectful to the Emperor's face. Her title will be taken away, she will be demoted to a concubine, and she will be banned from leaving the palace for three months. This is to set an example."
Yè Běi Chén said coldly.
At the same time, his feelings for Concubine Ruanfei also decreased even more.
It plummeted from 60 to 45, and even his fondness for her was gone. It seems she's not even as good as an ordinary concubine.
Naturally, he will no longer show any tolerance towards her.
Yè Běi Chén thought of the Queen again.
Although this matter was not spoken out by the Queen, she also played a hand in it.
Yè Běi Chén had the intention to withdraw her powers, but considering that the Mid-Autumn Festival was coming and the banquet was still waiting for the Queen to plan, he temporarily did not act on it.
Although he did not act, he redistributed the palace power that belonged to the Queen.
He entrusted Mei Fei and Wan Fei to assist the Queen in handling palace affairs.
In the original plan, this matter should have fallen on Yu Yao's head.
However, Yè Běi Chén considered that she was pregnant and could not bear the burden of her pregnancy, so he simply handed over the task to Mei Fei and Wan Fei.
